Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ
March 26-September 5
Shawn Cameron, Springtime on the Sixes, oil, 18 x 24.
About 16 years ago, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, AZ—which was established to preserve and exhibit the art and history of the Southwest and the desert frontier—realized that an important perspective was missing from the canon of western art: the viewpoint of the female artist. And so, in 2006, the museum began its annual tradition of showcasing contemporary women painters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists, giving them equal opportunity to share their stories in the Cowgirl Up! Art From the Other Half of the West Exhibition and Sale.
“The show began when a group of our museum volunteers, who were well-versed in the major southwestern art shows, felt that women artists weren’t getting fair visibility and value,” says the museum’s executive director, Dan Finley. “They decided to create a show exclusively for women western artists, and the name Cowgirl Up! was taken from a common phrase used among cowboys and cowgirls when it’s time to saddle up and go. Women need parity in the western art world. They typically don’t command the same prices for their art as their male counterparts, and our goal with this show is to help them create greater recognition, promotion, and value to help break through some of those glass ceilings.”
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- Maura Allen, State of Wonder, acrylic/resin, 36 x 24.
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- Jessica Garrett, Vibrancy, oil, 20 x 16.
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- Nancy Michaelson, The Pilgrim’s Path, acrylic, 37 x 25.
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- Lisa Gordon, Out on a Limb, bronze, 18 x 13 x 3.
This year’s Cowgirl Up! show exhibits the work of some 60 emerging and established female artists, who were selected by a jury committee from more than 300 applicants. The more than 300 works on display range in style from traditional to contemporary and cover such quintessential western genres as desert landscapes, cowboy scenes, wildlife, and florals, along with some surprises in subject matter. There are large-scale paintings and bronzes available, as well as a miniatures show, offering something at every price point for a variety of collectors.
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- Ann Hanson, A Whiter Shade of Pale, oil, 16 x 20.
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- Stephanie Revennaugh, Portent, bronze/steel, 17 x 7 x 7.
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- Harper Henry, Equus Ebony, oil, 36 x 36.
Although opening-weekend events have been cancelled due to Covid restrictions, the exhibition is open during regular museum hours, and artwork purchases can be made either in person or online. From March through September, virtual events are planned to help viewers get closer to the artwork and those who created it. “We learned a lot last year from having to adapt quickly to Covid closures and create other opportunities for our collectors,” says Finley. “We did several Zoom parties where we spent about an hour walking through segments of the show and discussing the artwork and artists. In some instances, exhibiting artists contributed to the conversation as well. I anticipate several artists joining us in the museum this year—where we will be following the necessary safety and social-distancing precautions—so we are planning on even more of those virtual offerings.” Visit the museum’s website for the latest details on streaming events and current hours. –Allison Malafronte
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- Dyana Hesson, Arizona Afterglow: Opuntia Blooms and Buds on the Mesa, oil, 30 x 40.
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- Deanne McKeown, Conflict Management, bronze, 17 x 15 x 13.
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- Diana Madaras, Catch a Falling Star, watercolor, 18 x 24.
contact information
928.684.2272
www.westernmuseum.org
This story appeared in the March/April 2021 issue of Southwest Art magazine.